GOP Says Kathleen Kane Breaking Her Own Rule

The state Republican Party is highlighting statements made by Democratic Attorney General Kathleen Kane during last year’s campaign that it says conflicts with her refusal to defend a court challenge to a Pennsylvania law banning same-sex marriage.

In the March 2012 interview, Kane suggests that it is a "dangerous proposition" for an attorney general to refuse to enforce a state law.

Her answer was in response to a Pennsylvania Cable Network interviewer’s question. It was based on another Democratic candidate’s assertion that he would not enforce any law that requires women seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound.

In her answer, she said an attorney general doesn’t have the right to choose which laws he or she enforces, and that not enforcing a law is tantamount to "playing politics."

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Comments

Anonymous, 2013-07-17 15:35:47

Hey GOP don’t you believe in old sayings like ...ummm... it’s a woman’s choice to change her mind? After all boys, we are fickle, just saying.

Anonymous, 2013-07-17 22:59:30

There is also a difference in refusing to defend a law in court and refusing to enforce a law. As mention in the previous article she has a right, maybe even a duty, to refuse to defend a law where there is a conflict of interest. The law will still be defended in court, just not by her.

Anonymous, 2013-07-18 06:12:26

If the law clearly conflicts with the constitution it is her duty to not only refuse to defend it but to work to get that law off the books alltogether!

Anonymous, 2013-07-19 02:03:58

PA Republicans know full well that they are ignoring a crucial distinction. DEFENDING a law in court and ENFORCING it in practice are two completely different things. Obama and his Justice Department ENFORCED the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act because it was the law, but they refused to DEFEND it in court because it was unconstitutional. That’s not a contradiction, or a conflict; in fact, it is what they are supposed to do. Attorney General Kane is currently ENFORCING the ban on same-gender marriage because it is the law; however, she won’t be DEFENDING it because it is unconstitutional. Republicans know this full well. They’re just trying to deceive the general public, and hoping that people can’t make these distinctions.

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